Friday, July 27, 2007

Wright's Retirement/Nathe the Nail in the Rockets Coffin

I'm feeling old.
Why?
Tyler Wright has retired!
Wright has joined the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey operations department as development coach. I remember Wright as this cocky (cocky in a good way) speedy forward when he joined the Swift Current Broncos in the late 80's. In fact he was one of the players on the ice, in his late 80's suit celebrating the Broncos 1989 Memorial Cup win over the Blades in Saskatoon. It was no surprise that the Edmonton Oilers selected him in the first round in the 1991 draft, he was that good as a junior. Wright could skate, score and liked to play the role of the agitator. He wouldn't often fight, but he didn't need to. Wright could throw off anyone on the opposition with his sharp tongue. Wright was never dominant at the NHL level, but played over 600 games over 13 seasons.
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Remember Bryan Nathe?
The Kelowna Rockets do!
Nathe was a member of the Everett Silvertips, the team that knocked the Rockets out of the Western Conference final in 2004. Nathe signed a East Coast Hockey League contract with the Johnston Chiefs yesterday.
Nathe scored arguably the series shifting goal in that series against the Rockets. Nathe scored an overtime goal in game five in a 1-0 Everett win, when the Tips were facing playoff elimination. The goal by Nathe brought the series to a 3-2 Rockets advantage, but the goal turned the tide, as the Tips would win games six and seven in the incredible upset. Nathe's goal in overtime in game five was followed by overtime wins by the Tips in game six and seven.
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Jim Hammett, a Kelowna native, has been named the new amateur scout for the New York Rangers.
Hammett comes to the Rangers from Hockey Canada, where he served as Head Scout of Men’s National Teams. He was responsible for all of the men’s player evaluations for under 20 years of age players, the selections for Canada’s future National Junior Team Development, and selection camps for Canada’s National under-18 programs. The under-20 team won a gold medal this past season in Sweden. Hammett also served for eight years, from 1998-2006, as a scout with the Colorado Avalanche, including the role of Chief Scout from 2001-2006.

3 comments:

Nicholas said...

Regarding the Rangers hiring of Jim Hammett as their head amateur scout,could you see the Rangers hiring Glen Cochrane as a scout?Was Cochrane let go by Colorado?He is not listed on the Avs website with their other scouts

David's Color Comments said...

I don't know how many times I have to call you out on air about your age...you should feel old...YOU ARE!!!

I love you like the Grandpa I don't have!

Until my Birthday starts with a 3,your fair game!

Regan Bartel said...

Hey Nicholas, thanks for dropping by. Funny you mentioned Cochrane. I talked to him Monday and we chatted about Hammett, yet he said nothing about his situation, or if it's changed.
I'll look into that, as it's odd he's not on the Av's website.